Fire Rescue Magazine's Blog – December 2010 Archive (19)

You CAN Fight the Same Fire Over Again

By Kriss Garcia

Today’s structure fires are becoming more infrequent yet more aggressive all the time. This, along with the fact that we’re in a construction era where building materials are becoming less resistant to the damage fire can cause, makes it imperative that we get the most experience and education possible out of the fires we do have. How do we accomplish this in a manner that translates to real learning, where we can make decisions based on real-life…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on December 29, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

Remembering 5 Buffalo Firefighters Killed 27 Years Ago Today

The explosion injured approximately 60 other people, damaged a dozen city blocks and caused millions of dollars of damage in fire equipment.

A memorial to the five members of Buffalo Fire…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on December 27, 2010 at 5:00am — 5 Comments

Nothing Ordinary About It: 11 years ago, 3 firefighters perished in a seemingly routine residential structure fire

Nothing Ordinary About It

11 years ago, 3 firefighters perished in a seemingly routine residential structure fire

On Dec. 22, 1999, Dave McNally, Nathan Tuck and Jason Bitting died fighting a residential structure fire in Keokuk, Iowa. Although on the surface there was nothing special about the fire—no unusual fuel load, no explosions, it wasn’t a particularly large structure—this incident demonstrates… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on December 22, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

Paying Tribute: The 100th anniversary of the Chicago Union Stockyards Fire

In 1910, the Chicago Union Stockyards were one of the largest centers of industry in the world.

Just after 0400 HRS on the morning of Dec. 22, 1910, a fire broke out in the basement of a six-story cold storage warehouse building, specifically Warehouse…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on December 21, 2010 at 3:30pm — No Comments

100 Years Later, Lessons from a Multiple LODD Still Hold True

100 Years Later, Lessons from a Multiple LODD Still Hold True

On Dec. 21-22, 1910, the Friedlander Leather Remnants factory in Philadelphia went up in flames. Although firefighters responded quickly and the department had the fire under control within an hour, the building was compromised, and the firefighters and police officers operating on scene were caught in the ensuing collapse. The collapse killed 11 firefighters and one police officer and… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on December 21, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

Scenario-Based Training Substitutes for Years of On-the-Job Training

An example of scenario-based training highlights the advantages of this unique teaching tool

Story & Photos by Les Baker

How many times have you performed extrication tactics on an upright, undamaged vehicle in a junkyard? Do you consider that appropriate training for effectively handling most motor vehicle collisions? This form of training is suitable for basic skill development and… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on December 20, 2010 at 1:00am — 1 Comment

3 FDNY Firefighters Killed 12 Years Ago Today

Cavalieri, Bohan & Bopp died when a flashover tore through a high-rise structure

This plaque is mounted in the lobby of 17 Vandalia St. in Brooklyn.

On Dec. 18, 1998, three FDNY… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on December 18, 2010 at 6:00am — 1 Comment

One Thing Leads to Another: Communicating is complex & requires a loop of information exchange

One Thing Leads to Another

Communicating is complex & requires a loop of information exchange

By Billy Schmidt

“The greatest problem in communication is the illusion that it has been accomplished.” -George Bernard Shaw

Communicating effectively is a necessary part of… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on December 17, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

To Refurb or Not to Refurb—That Is the Question

Inside the Apparatus Industry

Story & Photos by Bob Vaccaro

With the economy being the way it is these days—department budgets stretched to the limit and layoffs happening all around us—the only logical choice for some fire chiefs is to cut their apparatus budgets. As a result, instead of buying million-dollar-plus aerial apparatus, they’re choosing to refurb existing apparatus at a… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on December 15, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

’Tis the Season: One department’s quest to reduce cooking fires

’Tis the Season: One department’s quest to reduce cooking fires

By David L. Adams, R.A. CFO, CBO

If your department is like most, you respond to a lot of cooking fires, and the number of calls for them goes way up during the holidays. According to the NFPA, firefighters encounter three times as many cooking fires on Thanksgiving than on an average day—and cooking… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on December 14, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

Hazmat Training: Preparing for the worst

By Jeff Carman

There’s an old saying among the firefighter community: “Train as if your life depends on it, because it does.” Training can mean the difference between life and death, particularly when it comes to hazardous materials. Knowing what to expect and being familiar with your PPE will ensure you’re prepared from the first day of your hazmat training. Ultimately, preparation leads to peace of mind in the hot zone.…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on December 13, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

A Different Kind of ROI: In the fire service, a small group of people are doing most of the work

REALITY CHECK

A Different Kind of ROI

In the fire service, a small group of people are doing most of the work

By Scott Cook

I was visiting with a friend the other day who is also the head honcho of a volunteer soccer association. He commented on how… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on December 10, 2010 at 8:00am — 11 Comments

Kentucky Firefighters Respond to Man Trapped in a Coal Chute

By Tom Vines

On Oct. 17, southwestern Kentucky firefighters responded to a bizarre incident that eventually required a complex high-angle rope rescue.

Initial Response

The response was activated in the early morning hours with a 911 cell phone call to the Hopkins Country (Ky.) Central Dispatch. At 0112 HRS, the call was relayed to the Dawson Springs (Ky.) Police Dispatch. The… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on December 9, 2010 at 7:00am — No Comments

Witnessed cardiac arrest, no pulse: Will your CPR skills measure up?

Firefighters and EMTs have been performing CPR for 50 years—and many lives have been saved because of it. According to the American Heart Association, early CPR delivery and AED application are the most effective strategies for increasing survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. But recent research indicates that first responders may not be as effective in their CPR technique as they think they are—and that many more lives could be saved if cardiac arrest victims were… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on December 7, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

Understanding Psychological First Aid for First Responders

PFA focuses on enhancing natural resilience rather than preventing clinical disorders

By Chief Ronald J. Siarnicki

Following is the third in a series of seven articles that describe a new approach to mental and behavioral health in the fire service. Read the other articles:

•… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on December 7, 2010 at 6:30am — No Comments

Remembering the Worcester 6

On the evening of Dec. 3, 1999, firefighters from the Worcester (Mass.) Fire Department (WFD) began an interior search of the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. at 266 Franklin St. after responding to the report of a fire within the massive structure with possible victims trapped. Six of those firefighters never made it back out.…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on December 3, 2010 at 8:00am — 4 Comments

Full Disclosure & the Fog of War: Fallout from the San Bruno explosion

TECHNICAL RESCUE

By Harold Schapelhouman

The gas main explosion in the city of San Bruno rocked the small California community just south of San Francisco on Sept. 9. The official cause of the blast has yet to be determined by the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB), but this event may be yet another example of the nation’s deteriorating infrastructure. Of concern are the age and overall condition of a…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on December 2, 2010 at 8:00am — 2 Comments

In an Era of Scrutiny, Reputation Is Key

DECEMBER PRESIDENT'S LETTER

By Chief Jack Parow, MA, EFO, CFO, MIFireE

Lately, much has been made of the importance of a fire department’s (and its personnel’s) reputation. There is no doubt that the traditionally high public approval of the fire and emergency service has declined in many communities—and some would say at the national level, too. Even if your department hasn’t been raked… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on December 2, 2010 at 6:30am — No Comments

The Teachable Moment: Carefully crafted messages can turn tragedy into education

The Teachable Moment

Carefully crafted messages can turn tragedy into education

By Jim Crawford

Recently I had a chance to reflect on something I’d once learned about using the media to promote fire safety messages. I had a great conversation with Ed Ruckriegel and Lori Wirth, the fire marshal and public information… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on December 1, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments